Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, has presented the Dubai-it Award in the Economy category to SWS Board Technology, a Dubai-based manufacturer that produces half of the world's kiteboards and wakeboards and roughly a third of all snowboards sold globally.
Founded by entrepreneur Rainier Nouhra, the company has grown into one of the largest board-sports manufacturers worldwide, with an annual production capacity exceeding 450,000 units and more than six million boards sold to date across international markets.
Presenting the award, Sheikh Hamdan described the company as one of the world's largest board manufacturing businesses and praised its fully integrated industrial chain, which spans research and development, advanced composite-material engineering, and distribution to partner brands across the snow and water sports industry.
A key part of the citation focused on sustainability: the company has introduced recycling programmes that make 95 percent of the materials used in its boards recoverable, alongside solar-powered production lines that reduce the environmental footprint of manufacturing.
The Dubai-it Award recognises companies that demonstrate outstanding innovation and growth across different sectors of the emirate's economy each year. SWS Board Technology's win in the Economy category underlines Dubai's continuing push to diversify its industrial base beyond traditional pillars such as tourism and real estate, building up niche, export-oriented manufacturing instead.
The company has also built partnerships with major international snow and water sports brands, supplying boards used in competitive and recreational markets around the world. Officials said the recognition reflects the emirate's broader strategy of supporting homegrown manufacturers that combine advanced engineering with environmentally conscious production methods, positioning Dubai as a hub for specialised industrial exports rather than only trade and logistics.